Anyone have experience with any of the brass PRR J-1’s? I’ve been wanting one for some time now and have seen both the AHM and Westside versions out there. Any idea if those are any good? I wouldn’t be surprised if they needed to be repowered or at least have new couplings between the motor and gearboxes, but otherwise how are they? Do they have alot of problems with shorts? What about the quality of the gearboxes and running gear? Also, how would you compare them to the BLI ones? I don’t see them as often and I think they’re out of production as well. How well do they all pull compared to say a Bowser M1 or M1a (I own one of each).
I’d go with the BLI at this point. I have heard very few negative complaints. Most center on electronic problems and BLI has honored their warranties when they occurred. You will not get a warranty, sound, decoder and probably not a can motor in older brass versions.
If you want to use DCC, get the BLI version since it is a great runner and has sound.
If you want a brass model that is high quality, get the Key or PSC model. I had two of the AHM brass J1’s and one of the Westside. All of those ran good but would derail on curves less than 30". The Westside is a KTM which is a solid runner but not the best detailed. The early AHM models had a zamac frame and they give problems now since they are almost 50 years old and the frame can fall apart. The later AHM J1’s had a brass frame and they ran well. The older brass models are not really that cheap unless they are really a mess so the BLI is a bargain for my money.
I hope this helps, but now I would not trade the BLI sound versions for any of the older brass.
CZ
I believe the AHM and Westide J1s were both made by KTM, so there would little or no difference between the two. They most likely have an open frame motor, but they do have a separate gearbox that is probably decent (if not, it can be replace pretty easily with a gearbox from NWSL). As far as I know, KTM made mid-range quality brass, so I would expect one to run pretty well after some cleaning and oiling.
At this point, the BLI model would be the best choice. I wouldn’t expect it to pull as much as a Bowser 4-8-2, but it should still have traction that’s way more than sufficient.
I saw a couple of these on e-bay and am debating whether to bid on them or not. Does anyone know if BLI still makes theirs or if it has been discontinued? It seems like they do short runs of everything and then never re-run that model again. Also, I don’t mind changing out the motors. I’ll have to keep the radius in mind. Thanks.
They have all been discontinued unfortunately, both the paragon and the blue line J1’s are no longer in production.
Both of engines tend to pop up on Ebay every few months or so, but they are relativley rare now.
The paragon version is DCC equipped, and its QSI equipped, I used to like the old QSI sounds but they seem raspier now than I remember. Paragon engines also suffer from failry poor slow speed performance in my opinion. The positives are this engine has a very bright LED headlight and a flickering firebox which greatly adds to realism.
The Blue Line J1 is only DCC ready, howver in my opinion, it has a superior sound system and performs far better at slow speeds. The headlights aren’t as bright on these unfortunately and there is no flickering firebox. And Blue Lines seem to have more quality control issues (in my own experience). Thats the trade off.
I sure hope BLI chooses to release the J1 as a Paragon 2 brass hybrid. If they decide to make these, I’ll buy several definately.
Another thing I should have mentioned is that I currently run straight DC. I don’t even really have a perminant layout… every year around Easter we take it down and then I put a new one up around October. It has alot to do with the fact that the space I’m using isn’t the perminant location and having to design a different layout for me son since he’s only a year and a half. At any respect, how much do you think one of those brass ones would be a reasonable amount to pay for one? How about the BLI’s?
The BLI J1’s both run very well on DC out of the box. If you get the Blue Line version, all you need is the DC master sidekick, to blow the whistle, bell, etc. The Paragon version runs on DC as well, and the whistle can be triggered by flipping the direction switch back and forth very quickly.
As to price, the Blue Line shouldn’t run past $200, thats a fair price. I bought mine for $240 plus tax back in 2008, this was at my hobby shop, taken from the display case new. Sometimes on ebay, the prices even on the blue line engines get jacked up big time, because some of these models are very rare to find in new condition.
The Paragon’s typically run around $300 and up, because they are even older, and have dual mode decoders, whereas the Blue Lines run only on DC out of the box. I bought one of these for $350 at another hobby shop, new in the box.
I don’t own any brass J1’s and I don’t know too much about them, but they can be extremely expensive especially considering they don’t have sound. Finding a decent brass J1 usually runs over $500.
Honestly, its a tough call, but if you can track down the Broadway Limited Paragon J1, I would go for that. I find its the most reliable, just be careful handling the plastic piping, the model is fragile and pieces can easily break off. There are some on ebay right now (or at least there have been in the
I personaly would take a brass model over anything BLI has done. IF you dont mind upgrading the motor to a can type and some debugging. The brass models will far outpull the BLI J1 with ease. Plenty of room for extra weight in those hollow brass boilers. Detail stands up better to handling the model when rerailing ect. They are correct that the brass ones will need a good size radius. One of the members of our club has 2 of the later AHM brass J1’s and each one is good for 98 cars on flat track. Both still have thier original open frame motors, but run some quiet you would swear they both had NWSL can motors in them. Both are heavily weighted, professionaly painted and weathered. I have had a few pieces from BLI and most could harldly pull thier tenders up the ruling grade at the club layout unless I put the traction tire wheelset on them. Sound/DCC can always be added to the brass one when you put the new can motor in it. Either way, buy which ever model suits your needs and budget best. If you happy, thats all the counts! Mike
This is off topic, a little, but back in the late 1960s when Tyco had one of the most colorful HO train set catalogs, and still had domestic production and decent quality goods, for one or two years their catalog showed a Pennsy J-1 - a photograph of a model. Shiny black, and it sure looks like plastic, not a painted brass stand-in, and priced at $35. Man did I ever want one of those! But the thing was never produced to my knowledge, and I recall reading somewhere that Tyco could never get a preproduction sample that would actually run on the kind of curves a Tyco customer would be expected to have so they had no practical way to market it . I guess that was one consequence of downplaying the “Mantua” name. I wonder - does ANYONE have one of those pre production models?
Here is a page that shows what I am talking about:
http://www.hoseeker.net/tycoinformation/tycocatalog1969pg08.jpg
Dave Nelson
I don’t think anyone has a sample of the Tyco 2-10-4. I read about it at http://tycotrain.tripod.com/, and it looks like it was in the catalogs from the late 60s to the early 70s. The guy running the website has at least one of almost everything Tyco ever made, and he’s never seen one either. I guess Mantua got the tooling around 1977, but they still didn’t make it.
Nice link. Found this on there, an AHM Dreyfuss Hudson.
I have one of those Hudsons. It’s pretty nice, but I can’t seem to get the wheels quartered properly, and a couple wheels are off-center just enough to make it wobble. I wish I could get it running smoothly, because it’s a very nice steam engine.
Well, I finally picked up a J-1. I got a hold of a BLI Paragon… supposed to be brand new from e-bay. I’ll let everyone know what I think of it once I get it. I’ve been waiting for this locomotive for some time now!
Congrats, thats one fine loco! [tup]
I love mine, it still being my #1 engine of all time in HO, even better than my articulated engines in terms of its raw appeal to me. I think you did well to snag one, and you won’t regret it.
By the way, it probably has the old QSI chip in it, the one without BEMF and such. It would be worth purchasing the upgrade chip for low speed response and the cylinder c.ocks sounds as it gets under way.
To keep you hot for this beauty, I hope you enjoy this recent image of mine. [8D]
-Crandell
Thats a great pic! I love the blackened effect you painted on that portal. Everything in this pic is beautiful, I love the dark green foliage. It goes to show you, some trains look best unweathered. I think that J1 looks best in its natural state!
Congrats on finding a BLI J-1. You won’t be disappointed (assuming it didn’t have an QC problems). I’ve got the Paragon version as well as a Westside brass as well. I hate to say it but I actually prefer the BLI. [:P]
I got my J-1 yesterday in the mail and quickly opened it up secretly in another room from my son (as he would immediately want to play with it and probably never go to sleep). Unfortunately we were all sick here so I didn’t really feel like messing with it, but I did test it out and oil it up today. It is awesome! The real slow speed response is alittle lacking compared to my hot rodded brass LMB NYC 2-8-2, but it runs really smooth and the sound was really fun! I run DC so I was actually surprised to hear anything. I really love the look of this thing and it actually runs on my layout without a hitch. Now, I would never attempt to run it on some of my 18" radius stuff, but it runs perfectly on my 22". I just can’t wait to eventually have the perminant layout to build that has some nice flowing curves to really see this thing operate!